Academic Probation\Appeal... Did I just lose my aid?!

[archieg]

<p>So I was a junior transfer (started last fall) and switched my major to business (started business this fall). I have 44 units.</p>

<p>I dropped a 4-unit class my first semester here, so naturally was put on academic probation. </p>

<p>Now I have so far taken 44 units at USC.</p>

<p>Just got an e-mail saying I lost my financial aid eligibility because I don't have enough units.</p>

<p>Apparently its 45. I have 44. And I even talked to someone who said that I'd be fine as long as I don't drop or fail any classes.</p>

<p>This is CRAZY! Has this happened to anyone else?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!</p>

<p>After a stressful semester -- first Marshall semester and a death in the family -- I was finally relaxing this holiday. Then I open my e-mail and saw THIS?!</p>

<p>Whoa. This is IMPOSSIBLE.</p>

<p>Did I just lose all my aid? Can I get it back, or.....?</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

[bbgg]

<p>archieg From your header it looks like your’re starting the appeal process? If not you must call financial aid right away and do that. Perhaps if you are in good standing they will make an exception? Alamemom might know something about this. PM her too.</p>

[alamemom]

<p>Yes, at 3.5 semesters SAP (satisfactory academic progress) is 45 units. [Undergraduate</a> Education: Financial Aid : Satisfactory Academic Progress | USC Catalogue](<a href=“http://www.usc.edu/dept/publications/cat2011/undergraduate/fin_aid_sap.html]Undergraduate”>http://www.usc.edu/dept/publications/cat2011/undergraduate/fin_aid_sap.html) As long as you had 12 or more units this semester, the typical progression would be that they would place you on a one-time, one-semester financial aid waring period. You usually get one semester to get your units or GPA up to the minimums. Were you already in a financial aid warning period? It looks like you might have used your one-time warning period your first semester… Contact the financial aid office right away to get clarification of their message - if you have been placed in a financial aid warning period or if you are ineligible for aid. </p>

<p>Details from the catalogue:

Failure to Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress
The Financial Aid Office will evaluate Satisfactory Academic Progress at the end of every enrolled semester. Students who do not meet satisfactory academic progress requirements are notified, via email at their USC email address, by the Financial Aid Office. Students who have reached the maximum time allowance are ineligible for further financial aid. Students who are academically disqualified from the university are ineligible for further financial aid. Students who do not meet the yearly progress requirement are placed on a one-semester financial aid warning period.</p>

<p>Financial Aid Warning Period
Students on academic probation for GPA or those who do not meet the yearly progress requirement will be placed on a one-time, one-semester financial aid warning period. Students may continue to receive financial aid while in their one-semester warning period. Students who are placed on the financial aid warning period are encouraged to seek both academic and financial aid advisement. By the end of the financial aid one-semester warning period, the student must meet all satisfactory academic progress requirements. If, at the end of the one-semester warning period, the student does not meet the minimum requirements, he or she will no longer be considered to be making satisfactory academic progress and will become ineligible for financial aid. Students will be allowed only one, one-semester warning period during the course of their enrollment. Students in their one-semester warning period who receive grades of D, W, UW, IN, F, IX, MG, NC, NR, NP and V will no longer be considered to be making satisfactory academic progress and will become ineligible for financial aid. Only one, one-semester financial aid warning is available to students throughout their degree program. Students who subsequently fall below the standard will be considered ineligible for financial aid.</p>

<p>Regaining Financial Aid Eligibility
Students who have lost eligibility for financial aid due to insufficient GPA or lack of yearly progress can be reinstated by successfully completing sufficient units or bringing their GPA up to meet the accepted standards. The student must notify the Financial Aid Office once the requirements have been met.

[Undergraduate</a> Education: Financial Aid : Satisfactory Academic Progress | USC Catalogue](<a href=“http://www.usc.edu/dept/publications/cat2011/undergraduate/fin_aid_sap.html]Undergraduate”>http://www.usc.edu/dept/publications/cat2011/undergraduate/fin_aid_sap.html)</p>

<p>If you are in a warning period and have your aid for next semester, be sure to sign up for 18 units and COMPLETE THEM ALL WITH PASSING GRADES. Dropping, withdrawing or failing is NOT an option.</p>

<p>If you have already used your one-time warning period and your aid has been suspended, the only thing I can think of is to find out if you can take an online course NOW to meet SAP. Look for short-term one-unit courses that would end before the semester starts. Contact financial aid, your advisor and your department and get any pre-approvals you need for the course. Even if the online course is several hundred dollars, it would be worth it to reinstate your aid. All you would need is a one or two unit course.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>